Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the officials on their work. This is an important area, particularly the method of distribution of direct payments. This will be the kernel of the discussions from here on in. The structuring should achieve one of the central tenets of the CAP, namely, to keep the maximum number of farmers on the land. This will not be achieved without the structure I advocate. It means large payments to corporations, etc., must go off the agenda. We must ensure the money is diverted to where it will have the maximum impact. I hope this is what we have achieved. For too long, the payments have been lopsided and have not achieved what they should have achieved.

In this context, the Department has received some detailed submissions from the representative group of the organic farmers. They want a review and to increase the scheme payment rates in light of the significant costs associated with organic production in the areas of fish, beef and sheep. They have a number of structured ways of payment. They say the target, even that in Harvest 2020, will require a fourfold increase in the area of organic farming land in a short period. Has cognisance been taken of this?

I compliment the Minister in respect of the initiative on young farmers. It is necessary to ensure dedicated support for young farmers under both pillars. An instrument that was very useful and important in the past was the installation aid scheme. Will any such scheme be considered again? The educational structure has been built up and is very well fleshed out but there is no use being under 35 and having all the education in the world if one cannot get out of the traps. Installation aid was only €10,000, and €7,500 eventually, but it even helped significantly with legal costs and resulted in free flow in that regard. It is critical that we promote intergenerational transfer and adopt a positive view on partnerships. We must redefine these concepts and not be afraid to grasp them.

A free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada is being negotiated. Will the officials reflect on this? What will its impact be on the agriculture industry in Ireland? It runs in parallel to what other Deputies have said in regard to Mercosur, the issues pertaining to the importation of US hormone-free beef and the lifting of the quotas. I would be interested in seeing how this will feed into the overall distillation of the effects on Irish agriculture in the longer term.